Mr Elliot (says the Auckland correspondent of the Post) pointed out that what the country wanted was better roads, which it was impossible for local bodies to maintain with the means at hand.
A large number of prisoners were, he said, being employed in planting trees which would be of no use to anyone for years to come, and which might be destroyed by fire in a few hours.
The Dominion, he felt, should follow the example of Cape Colony, and put prisoners to work on roads, which, if properly maintained, were an asset of enormous value to the country. Old Roman roads in England were still in use, and roads constructed by troops during the Maori war were still the best in this country, showing that really good work in this direction might last for centuries.
"In these days wages are too high to allow the farmer to employ labour," said Captain Colbeck at the Auckland Farmers' Union dinner (says the Auckland Star).
"The towns are attracting all the good men, and in some parts of the country you will see only old men and boys.
"If it were not for the help of the milking machine, I do not know what many dairy farmers would do.
"The effect of this lack is to appreciate the value of the better class land and to depreciate the value of the poorer, which naturally requires more hands to work it.
"This is a very serious thing for the country.
"Then it is impossible for the farmer to pass on the increased cost of production as our local manufacturers do.
"We manufacture for ourselves in this country - it is a case of `dog eat dog,' and if you eat up the agricultural dog, you will find that there is no other dog to eat."
•The Hon. G. W. Russell stated at Auckland (says a Press Association telegram) that he intends to cable to the High Commissioner in a few days in regard to the scheme for bringing to the Dominion 50 girls from high-class orphanages to act as mothers' helps in New Zealand.
The girls will be not less than 17 years of age in every case, and will be healthy and capable to undertake domestic work.
The girls will be expected to recoup the State for the funds expended. If the experiment is successful it will be continued.
•The theft of coal from the wharves at Lyttelton is becoming a serious matter for shipping and coal companies (says the Christchurch Press), and the police have been communicated with in regard to the matter.
- ODT, 4.6.1912.
